They’re on the field during halftime at football games, at local bars and pubs, in the stands while the basketball players go head to head with other teams and up on stage in Robinson Theater.
Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU) bands seem to serenade and pump up crowds both on and off campus. That’s exactly their goal. The year 2022 has birthed the program’s new mission statement: “At CMU, we do band different.”
Most universities present three different traditional bands: symphony, jazz and marching, with a few smaller groups added to the mix. CMU, however, has brought a little something more to the table. On top of the traditional three, the band program here on campus features the Rowdy Brass Band as well as Maverick Sound.
Defined by high energy and crowd interaction, the Rowdy Brass Band is the most original of the ensembles. They travel all around Colorado, performing at private and public events. The group started in 2016 by Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music Jonathan Hinkle.
Prior to accepting a job at CMU, Dr. Hinkle, among other professions, worked as a member of a street performing band at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. His experience with showmanship has trickled into his way of teaching the ensembles on campus.
“One of the things that we do with the Rowdy Brass Band, when we put on a show, is we consider every aspect of what we do as part of the show: how we come on, how we talk to the audience. I have students address the audience. It’s more than just being a musician in terms of playing your instrument, but how you’re interacting at every second with the audience,” said Hinkle.
This way of playing has started making ears perk up. Because of this unique performance style, the Rowdy Brass Band has been invited to play at the Hard Rock Café in Denver as well as the Pepsi Center and Red Rocks Amphitheater.
“Part of this ‘doing band different’ thing is me really listening and paying attention to what the audience wants, sometimes asking directly, sometimes just guessing,” said Hinkle. “They want to be involved; they want to sing; they want to dance; they want to move; they want to clap; they want to somehow participate […] we do a ton of that with the Rowdy Brass Band which is why it’s a hit right now.”
The Rowdy Brass Band will be performing next with Wind Symphony on Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Robinson Theater. The concert is free for CMU students.
